Ponta Delgada, Azores Islands, Portugal, Jan. 9, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, said on Friday that the Azores Islands have "enormous potential" in terms of research and innovation, highlighting the space sector as an example.
"The Azores have enormous potential [in innovation and research]. I can give the example of space, where Portugal has very recently increased its investment in the area with its participation in the European Space Agency (ESA)," said the minister.
Fernando Alexandre recalled that "the regional government of the Azores was one of the entities, along with the ministry of defence, the ministry of the economy, environment and energy and, obviously, the ministry of science and innovation, which participated and made a contribution precisely because of the role that the region can and will play in the space strategy in Portugal and Europe from Santa Maria Island".
The minister was speaking after a meeting he had today with the Council of Rectors at the University of the Azores in Ponta Delgada.
In addition to the space centre in Santa Maria, the Azores will also contribute "from other areas, many at the University of the Azores", which "will become increasingly important in this area", according to the minister.
The Azores spaceport, the first licensed in Portugal, will operate on the island of Santa Maria, where the consortium that will run it hopes to start launching orbital flights to place satellites in 2027.
Portugal has committed to strengthening its participation in the ESA, of which it has been a member state for 25 years, with €204.8 million for the period 2026-2030, a budget that includes infrastructure for the landing of Space Rider (a reusable, unmanned robotic space laboratory from the European Space Agency, designed to provide independent and economical access to low Earth orbit for scientific research and technology demonstration).
At today's meeting with the Council of University Rectors, the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation discussed the proposed strategic evaluation methodology for defining strategic areas and budget allocation within the new Agency for Research and Innovation (AI2).
Fernando Alexandre said in this context that, in 2026, "the country will have to make choices and define priorities for strategic areas, which will be defined as priorities for the country's competitiveness, resilience and sustainability".
The minister announced that a five-year budget for research and innovation will be put forward, something that did not exist before, and that the ministry intends to present a "proposal for a methodology for discussion during the month of February".
According to Fernando Alexandre, science and research will be "increasingly important in responding to the major challenges facing the country and the European Union".
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